Final score: Illinois State 70 Bradley 57

[LittleBrave]

A little frustrating that we didn't make this one closer - expected a 5-point margin either way. ISU certainly has our number the past 10 years or so.

They played well - we played well for stretches. We played hard, but didn't get the boards in the 2nd half and gave up 2nd chance points.

Koch Barr really hurts us - Luuk, Donte, and D-Lo had solid games, and Childs did ok.

Not sure why Hodges is playing so much - what does he give us?
I liked him as a frosh, but struggling this season.

No reason to hang our heads - come back strong on Saturday and continue to improve on the road.

 

[pfcmsh]

I don't care about "actual start date" for Coach Wardle.

Year 1 he cleaned out the crap that was at Bradley under Ford and Cross. When hired so late in year, he couldn't recruit actual competitive D1 players. He found the best he could. We have marginal players maturing. They are in their 3rd year. Coach Wardle is in his 2nd year. Yet... since he cleaned house and filled roster with newbies and being an honorable and respectable human being, he is honoring the scholarships given for 4 years if the players continue to follow his program. So... year 2 and year 3 recruiting has left little room to add.

So all the Grumpy Gills out there need to realize HONESTLY what Bradley has decided to do and what the actual rebuilding IS.

Bradley is still 2-4 years out from seeing what Coach Wardle is building and he needs that time to show it. The steaming pile he was given is not his fault. And then having to start from absolutely nothing means he deserves more time to get this program going. And the fact he and Bradley are honorable and respectable in giving scholarships in this rebuild process to the student athletes without pulling the scholarships in place of a quick fix... this speaks louder than the record this team will have this season.

Well said. "Steaming pile" is a great description. We were in awful shape and losing awful players caused us to bottom out, yet we still won as many games as Ford's last year. Now, we are on the way back. We already have reached last years total wins. We can have a 20 win season. It is still there. Meanwhile, I suspect that Coach Wardle's sights have risen some on recruits. Just a hunch. Go Braves!

 

[pfcmsh]

pretty much without exception, the teams that have won on the road in MVC play sit atop the MVC standings....and the teams that have NOT won on the road occupy the lower half of the MVC.
We must hold home court and win a couple on the road.

I really believe we can do this. I think 20 wins is within our reach. It is great observation that traditionally the league upper crust wins their road games.